ROME: Dusan Vlahovic shot Juventus to a record-extending 15th Coppa Italia with the only goal in Wednesday’s final against Atalanta who were denied a first trophy in six decades.

Serbia striker Vlahovic’s fourth-minute strike was enough for Massimiliano Allegri’s Juve, Italy’s most successful and widely-supported club, to beat Atalanta 1-0 in a largely uninspiring final in Romea and earn their first trophy in three years.

Juve, who hold both the record for most Italian Cup finals played (22) and won, had not lifted any silverware since they won the competition in 2020-21, when they also beat Atalanta in the final.

Allegri’s side had won just three matches since the end of January coming into the final but frustrated Atalanta from the moment Vlahovic, who also had a goal disallowed for offside in the second half, netted the only goal of the game.

Poor performances this season have led to speculation that Allegri, who became the first coach to win the Coppa Italia five times after Sven-Goran Eriksson and Roberto Mancini lifted the trophy on four occasions, will be sacked in the summer, and he hinted that his second spell as Juve coach is set to come to an end.

“Very happy for the boys, they brought joy to the club, to the fans and to me. Winning is never easy, but it is in our DNA,” Allegri told a press conference.

“If I’m gone next season, because I’ve already been sacked in the media, we’re in the Champions League and have won a trophy. We’ve done everything we were supposed to do, get into the Champions League and reach a final, the boys did really well to win it. I will leave a strong team. The club will make its evaluations.”

Vlahovic put Juventus in front in the fourth minute when he latched onto a pass from Andrea Cambiaso and broke inside the box to send the ball past goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi from around the penalty spot.

Vlahovic, who also found the net when they lost the final to Inter Milan in 2022 (4-2), became the third Juve player to score in two Coppa Italia finals after John Charles (1958-59, 1959-60) and Savino Bellini (1937-38, 1941-42).

“I find it difficult to speak, I can only thank everyone,” Vlahovic told Mediaset. “We know the difficulties we faced, in the end we achieved the objectives set at the beginning of the year. I’m sorry for the Scudetto, but Inter deservedly won it. We are very happy, but next year we must aim to win everything. Juventus’ DNA requires this.”

Atalanta were fancied to win their first major honour since winning the cup in 1963 after a fabulous season for the traditionally provincial club.

However Gian Piero Gasperini’s team couldn’t find a way through a brilliantly organised Juventus defence which stopped attack-minded Atalanta from having a single shot on target.

The closest Atalanta came to levelling was when Ademola Lookman thumped a shot off the base of the post with 10 minutes remaining.

Atalanta now turn their attentions to sealing Champions League football through Serie A and next week’s Europa League final.

The Bergamo club, who are fifth in Italy’s top flight, face Bayer Leverkusen in Dublin in their first ever European final.

“We were up against a good team who went in front straight way and defended very well. I don’t think we played badly... they didn’t do any more than we did,” said Gasperini.

The match finished with under-pressure Allegri sent off after the coach completely lost his head with referee Fabio Maresca when a foul on Danilo wasn’t immediately given in the area as Atalanta pushed for an equaliser.

Allegri was enraged to the point that he threw his jacket and tie to the floor before ranting at officials pitchside, as Juve directors tried to pull him away, before he returned fully dressed to celebrate cup glory.

Published in Dawn, May 17th, 2024